falcon
4th Level Red Feather
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2001
- Messages
- 1,798
- Points
- 38
May 4th, 2009. 11:05am. I was one of the first to leave this morning. After a long and final gathering in the lobby of the place we called home for three days, it was time to depart and go our separate ways. For some of us, it would be at least another year before we saw each other again. For others, not quite so long and still, for others, possibly longer. My flight’s been delayed due to weather. I don’t really care. Sitting here in the Philadelphia airport awaiting my transport back home, I can see my reflection in the screen, backlit from the open window behind me, the crinkled wrist band that was placed around my arm a few days ago by a living goddess named LeeAllure, still there as a reminder of one of the most wonderful weekends of my life. Ever.
People say, and have said in the past, that the TMF and NEST are places for family, community, friendship, love, respect, and honoring those who have chosen to open themselves to the experience. People were right. This was my first of, hopefully, many NEST’s. I arrived late Friday afternoon. I didn’t know where to go and saw a small group of people outside, some of whom I recognized (RobAce, Classy, Venray, etc.). I walked up and asked where I should go for registration and was promptly greeted with shouts of “Falcon!!!!!”, heart-felt handshakes and hugs (and that was just from Venray). Once checked in I dumped my crap in my room and headed downstairs where there were more recognizables, such a Skipadeedoodah (Lyz) and Mikey. Lyz practically made me father to her future children while Mikey stood by in awe. Once the violating was over, they took me around and introduced me to so many people that by the time the night was over for me, I was on complete overload. Three days later, I still am.
This is not meant to be a complete recap of the events at NEST. I’m leaving that to the pros, like Amnesiac, who always seems to write the most accurate and detailed accounts of events that one could hope for without having to testify in court about it. I will say that I definitely befriended a lot of people, like Amnesiac, and about 100 others, who helped, some directly and some indirectly, to ensure that I had the most amazing time ever. Looking out the window from the plane now, out of the rainy weather, but headed to some more with a stop in Nashville (that I didn’t know about!!) and staring out at the beautiful horizon where deep blue descends to a fading blue that greets a solid blanket of bright white, I can only think back over the last three days and remember what an incredible experience it was; all the while with Mozart’s Requiem playing in my earbuds.
I have so much to say and yet I now find it impossible to formulate anything intelligible to really say. Words are definitely escaping me at the moment and after the night I spent with Goth, Saeria, BagelFather, Avenger and Jessica (thank you for the late-night downtown tour of the Philadelphia Sports Complex center!), Mikey, Lyz, Josh, Sanna, Chey, Rui and Amnesiac, all the while only getting 4 hours of sleep before getting up for breakfast with a horrible sore throat, cough, and generally feeling like shit, I wouldn’t have spent my last night in Philly any differently. Not one single moment. I am truly thankful to my new extended family for accepting me for who I am, the way I am. No compromise, no judgement, nothing. I am so greatful for the time I was allowed to spend with everyone. I will value these memories forever and already can not wait for next year.
As a lot of you know, I lost my mom in December, three days before Christmas. The outpouring of support that I received from the forum members was absolutely unreal. It’s kind of funny because, when I was a kid, as I’m sure this is true for at least some of us, mom always watched out for me and was maybe a little overly critical of the people I would call my “friends”. I definitely think she would approve of the new friends I have made this weekend. If I ever get a message from her, which I’m sure some day I will, if I remember, I’ll ask her. While it was difficult to say goodbye today, even for a newbie, I know that all of our paths will cross again. If it is the will of the Goddess, it will happen; and I believe that. Our horizon is not far my friends. And I will be keeping my eyes on it and open for all of you.
Wherever you all are, whatever you are doing at this moment, know that I hope you arrived home to your families safely and without much, if any, delay. I love you. I miss you. Please keep safe. Always. I felt privileged and honored to meet those of you who I did. If I missed you, please do not take personal offense. After all, there’s always next year.
As much as I did not want to leave at all I know that all good things must come to an end, like this thread. And while it hurt to leave everyone, I was, and still am anxious, to get home to my girl and my little kitteh!
And, as if this damn thing wasn't long enough, there seems to be something missing, which a lot of NEST posters have reminded me of, and that would be thanking some people.
Lee and Bella: For the work you two put in to this thing to make sure it goes off without a hitch and for making sure we newbies were taken care of.
And to all the people I met and had the chance to hang out with this weekend (and if I miss anyone, please don't be mad. I can't remember everyone) Goth and Sae, Avenger and Jess, Cara and Nick, Lisa, Little Rob and Lamashtu (I am so in love with that name!!), Lyz and Mikey, Ted, Amy and Mel, Kevin, Rupert, RobAce, Kered, Jo, Gin, Ru, Natural, Angelique, Sanna, KDog, Slacker, Venray and Raya, Josh, Tony and about 100 others that I just can't think of at the moment. Know that I hold you all close to my heart and consider you family. Which means that you now have my support for anything, anytime, anywhere.
Thanks to all who made my first NEST completely fucking amazing!!!!
People say, and have said in the past, that the TMF and NEST are places for family, community, friendship, love, respect, and honoring those who have chosen to open themselves to the experience. People were right. This was my first of, hopefully, many NEST’s. I arrived late Friday afternoon. I didn’t know where to go and saw a small group of people outside, some of whom I recognized (RobAce, Classy, Venray, etc.). I walked up and asked where I should go for registration and was promptly greeted with shouts of “Falcon!!!!!”, heart-felt handshakes and hugs (and that was just from Venray). Once checked in I dumped my crap in my room and headed downstairs where there were more recognizables, such a Skipadeedoodah (Lyz) and Mikey. Lyz practically made me father to her future children while Mikey stood by in awe. Once the violating was over, they took me around and introduced me to so many people that by the time the night was over for me, I was on complete overload. Three days later, I still am.
This is not meant to be a complete recap of the events at NEST. I’m leaving that to the pros, like Amnesiac, who always seems to write the most accurate and detailed accounts of events that one could hope for without having to testify in court about it. I will say that I definitely befriended a lot of people, like Amnesiac, and about 100 others, who helped, some directly and some indirectly, to ensure that I had the most amazing time ever. Looking out the window from the plane now, out of the rainy weather, but headed to some more with a stop in Nashville (that I didn’t know about!!) and staring out at the beautiful horizon where deep blue descends to a fading blue that greets a solid blanket of bright white, I can only think back over the last three days and remember what an incredible experience it was; all the while with Mozart’s Requiem playing in my earbuds.
I have so much to say and yet I now find it impossible to formulate anything intelligible to really say. Words are definitely escaping me at the moment and after the night I spent with Goth, Saeria, BagelFather, Avenger and Jessica (thank you for the late-night downtown tour of the Philadelphia Sports Complex center!), Mikey, Lyz, Josh, Sanna, Chey, Rui and Amnesiac, all the while only getting 4 hours of sleep before getting up for breakfast with a horrible sore throat, cough, and generally feeling like shit, I wouldn’t have spent my last night in Philly any differently. Not one single moment. I am truly thankful to my new extended family for accepting me for who I am, the way I am. No compromise, no judgement, nothing. I am so greatful for the time I was allowed to spend with everyone. I will value these memories forever and already can not wait for next year.
As a lot of you know, I lost my mom in December, three days before Christmas. The outpouring of support that I received from the forum members was absolutely unreal. It’s kind of funny because, when I was a kid, as I’m sure this is true for at least some of us, mom always watched out for me and was maybe a little overly critical of the people I would call my “friends”. I definitely think she would approve of the new friends I have made this weekend. If I ever get a message from her, which I’m sure some day I will, if I remember, I’ll ask her. While it was difficult to say goodbye today, even for a newbie, I know that all of our paths will cross again. If it is the will of the Goddess, it will happen; and I believe that. Our horizon is not far my friends. And I will be keeping my eyes on it and open for all of you.
Wherever you all are, whatever you are doing at this moment, know that I hope you arrived home to your families safely and without much, if any, delay. I love you. I miss you. Please keep safe. Always. I felt privileged and honored to meet those of you who I did. If I missed you, please do not take personal offense. After all, there’s always next year.
As much as I did not want to leave at all I know that all good things must come to an end, like this thread. And while it hurt to leave everyone, I was, and still am anxious, to get home to my girl and my little kitteh!
And, as if this damn thing wasn't long enough, there seems to be something missing, which a lot of NEST posters have reminded me of, and that would be thanking some people.
Lee and Bella: For the work you two put in to this thing to make sure it goes off without a hitch and for making sure we newbies were taken care of.
And to all the people I met and had the chance to hang out with this weekend (and if I miss anyone, please don't be mad. I can't remember everyone) Goth and Sae, Avenger and Jess, Cara and Nick, Lisa, Little Rob and Lamashtu (I am so in love with that name!!), Lyz and Mikey, Ted, Amy and Mel, Kevin, Rupert, RobAce, Kered, Jo, Gin, Ru, Natural, Angelique, Sanna, KDog, Slacker, Venray and Raya, Josh, Tony and about 100 others that I just can't think of at the moment. Know that I hold you all close to my heart and consider you family. Which means that you now have my support for anything, anytime, anywhere.
Thanks to all who made my first NEST completely fucking amazing!!!!
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